UNITING THE BUILT & NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS

A recent online article in Plenty by Alexa Schirtzinger focuses on the concept of reclamation of trees felled by natural calamity…and the lessons that can be learned. The Chicago Furniture Designers Association is organizing exhibits of high-style furniture pieces made of ash, the normally utilitarian wood suddenly rendered abundant as the emerald ash borer wreaks havoc on North America’s standing ash trees. Which, of course, raises larger questions. The author notes, “Studies show that if urban timber (trees that succumb to disease or injury) were fully utilized, it could provide up to 30 percent of the United States’ timber needs.” Anyone have any ideas on how to approach such an initiative?